tabbs wrote:Guess that by now peple in Iceland have become aware of the fact that joining the European Union is not a cure-all, nor does it solve any of the country's short term problems. Also, according to the IMF, the inflation peak may be over and the Icelandic krona on its way to stabilization. In a situation of uncertainty or crisis people may opt for measures that they later regret. So if after this "turmoil" Iceland still wants to be an EU member, let them start negotiations ...

A "cure-all" doesn't exist, but this crisis has make clear the concept that doesn't have sense to be isolated: it isn't issue of momentary emotionality or "may be"... we don't argue about a momentary and ordinary problem but a crisis of system.
And, I repeat it, doesn't exist no logical motivation neither convenience for the iceland in order to remain outside of the EU... even military agreements or the fishing.
It's absourd... here apparently we reason as if join EU was the problem, a serious threat to avoid at all cost... I remember to all that the problem is the crisis and its consequences, not the EU

"Awaken, my child, and embrace the glory that is your birthright!
Know that I am the Overmind, the eternal will of the swarm,
and that you have been created to serve me."

ART wrote:It's absourd... here apparently we reason as if join EU was the problem, a serious threat to avoid at all cost... I remember to all that the problem is the crisis and its consequences, not the EU

Uh, no, that is absolutely not what I wanted to say - sorry if my message came across this way. What I mean is, Iceland is a small currency area and thus less stable when it comes to currency speculation for example. So when in Iceland the crisis became very obvious, some people there said, let's join the EU and introduce the euro, and all will soon be well. (Yes, I exaggerate ... a little. )

Problem is that, even if Iceland could become an EU member within a very short period of time (after all it is an EEA member), that would, by itself, not solve the problems now that the country has now. And introducing the euro, that would be many years away. That is why I say, try and get out of the crisis first, with international support where it makes sense, and then think about joining the European Union.

EU Hails Iceland's Membership Bid
European leaders welcomed a decision by the island nation—devastated by the credit crunch in 2008—to apply for EU membership, but issues remain

By Lucia Kubosova

Brussels has hailed the decision by the Icelandic parliament to give the go ahead to talks on joining the EU, suggesting it is proof of the "vitality of the European project."

Iceland's legislature, the 63-seat Althingi, passed the proposal to start the EU accession process by a narrow majority of 33 votes to 28, with two abstentions, on Thursday (16 July).

Supporters of the move argued EU membership would help the island, with a population of 320,000, emerge more quickly from the global financial and economic crisis which devastated the countries' banks last year.

Opponents of the EU said membership would harm the country's sovereignty as well as its fishing industry by introducing binding quotas, the two arguments that in the past dominated the EU debate in Iceland and prevented any attempts to join Europe.

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed Thursday's move by Icelandic MPs and pointed out that Iceland is a "European country with long and deep democratic roots."

"The decision of the Icelandic parliament is a sign of the vitality of the European project and indicative of the hope that Europe represents," Mr Barroso said in a written reaction to the developments in Reykjavik.

Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently chairs the 27-member bloc, said he welcomed Iceland's application and said it "will be assessed in accordance with the EU's established procedures."

It is expected that Reykjavik will formally submit its EU membership application to a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on 27 July.

Under EU rules, any European democratic country which respects the rule of law, democracy and human rights can become a member of the Union. Entry must be unanimously agreed by all member states.

Although Iceland meets the EU's political criteria of a modern democracy and it has implemented around two thirds its rules through being a member of European Economic Area (EEA), tough negotiations are expected on fishing rights. Fisheries are not covered by the EEA.

"We would no longer be the lawmakers on how we run our fishing industry. This is the key element for us. And we just don't see any need for an application when you know what the outcome is going to be," said Sigurdur Sverrisson from the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners, reports Deutsche Welle.

Icelanders will have final say on EU membership once negotiations are finished.

Arni Thor Sigurdsson, the chairman of Iceland's EU affairs parliamentary committee, said negotiations could kick off in February next year, with a referendum on the EU membership to be possibly held in late 2011 or early 2012, Reuters reported.

Iceland could be ready to join the EU in 2013 at the earliest, Mr Sigurdsson told the agency.

(Provided by EUobserver—For the latest EU related news)

"Awaken, my child, and embrace the glory that is your birthright!
Know that I am the Overmind, the eternal will of the swarm,
and that you have been created to serve me."

Iceland's prime minister has announced the set-up of a commission to investigate joining the European Union.

An initial plan has already been drafted by the country's foreign ministry that would see a membership application made in early 2009, aiming for entry some time in 2011, according to a report in the Financial Times which appeared at the weekend.

The prime minister, Geir Haarde, also said that his centre-right Independence Party would hold its 2009 conference in January instead of October as scheduled, to consider EU membership.

In announcing the move on Friday (14 November), Mr Haarde said "We have always said that we will assess at any given time how we co-operate with Europe."

"This process will help us make our future decisions."

Until now, Iceland has never applied for EU membership, and the population has historically been strongly opposed to the idea.

After the bottom falling out of the Icelandic banking sector and a run on the currency in recent weeks, many are now convinced of the need to adopt the euro, but EU officials have repeatedly told the north Atlantic nation that the euro cannot be adopted without joining the union first.

The crisis has sharply boosted support for EU membership in Iceland, climbing to a current 70 percent up from around 50 percent ahead of the crisis.

On Saturday, some 6,000 people - two percent of the population - protested outside the Icelandic parliament, attacking the government for its handling of the crisis. According to local reports, several people carried EU flags.

Icesave deposits guaranteed

In separate news, a bitter row between Iceland and EU member states the UK and the Netherlands over savers' deposits in local subsidiaries of Icelandic banks appears to have been resolved.

On Sunday, the Icelandic government announced it is to refund the deposits of those banking with Icesave, the collapsed internet bank owned by the now nationalised Landsbanki.

Iceland's attempts to access IMF funding were threatened in recent weeks as London and the Hague - as well as Berlin - insisted that Reykjavik guarantee foreign deposits before the taps were opened.

According to a statement from the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Talks between Iceland and several EU member states, initiated by the French EU Presidency, led to a common understanding that will form the basis for further negotiations."

The EU-chaperoned deal will see the government covering the "deposits of insured depositors in the Icesave accounts in accordance with EEA law."

In return, "the EU, under the French Presidency, will continue to participate in finding arrangements that will allow Iceland to restore its financial system and economy."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso had said on Wednesday that aid could only be delivered "after Iceland and some EU member states reach an agreement on ...issues related to deposit guarantee schemes and protection of foreign depositors."

Appearantly 2012 is the target date as stated by the Icalandic government.
The latest polls seems to indicate a more negative opionion. I hope they'll change their mind in the real referendum.
I would like to see Iceland (and Norway as well ) in the Union.

Commission Opinion on Iceland's application for membership of the European Union
Following Iceland's application for accession to the European Union in July 2009, the European Commission will publish on 24 February 2010 ( today=oggi=in a few minutes ) its opinion on the country's ability to assume the obligations of EU membership and on the opening of accession negotiations.

Just had a brief look at the articles (my Spanish is, umm ... ) - right, the Commission has said Yes. Which simply means that, according to them, official membership negotiations may now begin. Except that the Council may oppose that; since every single member state including NL and UK will have to agree, that may be a hurdle. And of course, at the end the Icelanders will vote in a referendum whether they actually want their country to become part of the EU. Oh well, we will see.

The first meeting of the Accession Conference with Iceland at Ministerial level decided today the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the Accession of Iceland to the European Union.

During the IGC, the EU delegation recalled that Iceland has been cooperating extensively with the EU across a broad range of areas over the last forty years, as a member of the European Economic Area or applying the Schengen acquis, which means that Iceland has already adopted a significant part of EU law.